Rivers Aircraft Properly Acquired –Lawmaker

A federal lawmaker representing Okrika, Ogu/Bolo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Bright Gogo Tamuno says the lawmakers have confirmed that the process of acquiring the Rivers State Bombandier jet was the same used to purchase about 150 private jets  in Nigeria.

Hon Bright who stated this Thursday in a chat with newsmen at the Port Harcurt International Airport on arrival from Abuja, said the report of the House Committee on the grounding of the Rivers State aircraft exonerated the State Government of wrong doing.

He explained that the House did not see any foul play in the acquisition process of the jet on the part of Rivers State Government because the procedure was the same with other private jets including that of Akwa Ibom State.

“We  discovered that the Rivers State air craft was properly acquired like others, as we speak, the Akwa Ibom State governor is flying everywhere and nobody has challenged the process of acquiring the aircraft,” Bright said.

The lawmaker explained that the House deliberated on the report and came up with its verdict which had been made public, the rest is left for the executive to obey and comply or not, noting that “at least we have told Nigerians that there was no foul play in the process of acquiring the jet on the part of Rivers State government.”

Hon Bright hinted that the House equally received a petition about police sealing off Obio/Akpor Council and invited the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and incidentally it coincided with the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction which gave an order for them to vacate the premises, but provide minimal security to allow workers carry on with their duties.

He regretted that the Rivers State Police Command has become partisan in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis in the State and advised the police commissioner to refrain from interfering in the politics of the State.

On the single six years tenure for resident and governors proposed by the Constitution  Review Committee, the Okrika-born lawmaker said he personally support  the recommendation, adding that during the constituency discussions on the review, his constituents unanimously voted in favour of the six years single tenure.

Hon Bright used the opportunity to explain the bill before the House that seeks to lighten the process of impeaching the president and Governor as the present procedure is too cumbersome and hardly achievable.

According to him, “democracy provides for checks and balances, it is not done in bad fate or with anybody in mind, we are not anticipating anything but realizing the rigorous process of impeachment, we are thinking it should be reduced.”